RED SOX NOTEBOOK: Smith getting back to normal on the hill

Monday

Sep 11, 2017 at 12:33 AMSep 11, 2017 at 12:38 AM

Providence Journal

BOSTON – It’s starting to feel normal again for Carson Smith.

The Red Sox reliever worked around a pair of singles by the Rays on Saturday to toss his second scoreless inning of the week; this one was presumably less stressful, coming in the seventh inning of a 9-0 game rather than the 18th frame of a tie one on Tuesday.

“Overall, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at,” said Smith, who struck out his old Seattle teammate Brad Miller on a backdoor slider and then generated a ground-ball double play to escape the inning on Saturday without any damage. “It felt good to get out there and work through some adversity and get outs when I needed to.”

“The action and life is there,” Sox manager John Farrell said. “The slider has got some good shape to it. As he does frequently with that action, he puts the ball on the ground for a double play. I like the fact that he’s throwing the ball over the plate and throwing strikes, not being tentative.”

Boston’s bullpen has performed exceptionally of late, and the Red Sox are presenting Farrell with plenty of options for a potential postseason relief corps. But despite missing almost all of the last two seasons due to Tommy John elbow surgery, Smith remains a tantalizing one. His stuff is still electric. Even when his fastball isn’t at its pre-surgery velocity, his slider is a considerable weapon, as he showed on Saturday.

Smith is still waiting for the chance to really let it go in a relief appearance; the two quick singles on Saturday limited his opportunities to throw that slider the way he wanted to.

“I have two different sliders. They may look the same on TV, but I have an early-count slider and a late-count slider,” he said. “I didn’t get to really use my late-count slider with a right-handed hitter in the box. That’s my bread and butter.

“I didn’t really give myself a chance to let the ball go, but hopefully I get to do that next time.”

Craig Kimbrel and Addison Reed will be the late-game pillars for the Red Sox in the postseason. Brandon Workman, Joe Kelly and Matt Barnes have all pitched in high-leverage at various times this season. There might not be room for Smith on a playoff roster.

Farrell and the Red Sox have been steadfast in tempering expectations for Smith this month. The manager said in late August that merely getting Smith through the season healthy and into a normal offseason would be a plus.

On Sunday, Farrell said the team isn’t prioritizing back-to-back appearances for Smith — yet.

‘‘Right now, that’s not a priority. The priority right now is to continue to get this spaced repetition that’s been there through his rehab,’’ Farrell said. ‘‘If we get into the final 10 days and he’s making continued progress, I wouldn't rule it out.’’

This time last year, Kelly worked his way into the mix with a lights-out September that saw him strike out 20 and walk three while allowing one run in 14 innings. A similarly dominant month from Smith could convince the Red Sox to take a chance on the high-ceiling arm out of the pen for the playoffs.

Smith isn’t thinking along those lines at the moment.

“Honestly, that’s not my decision. I just know I can take advantage of every opportunity I have,” he said. “That’s what I’m focused on. As often as I get in there, I’m going to try to do my best to compete and show them the pitcher I was before.”

Wait and see: With Hurricane Irma hitting the Tampa area on Sunday, the Red Sox were in a “wait-and-see” mode regarding the status of their series next weekend against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay had already shifted its next series against the Yankees to Citi Field on Monday through Wednesday.

“Our schedule is flexible,” Farrell said. “Our concern is with the people in that area.”

Lineup changes: Eduardo Nuñez was out of the lineup as expected a day after departing with a right knee contusion. Nuñez will receive treatment over the next two days, with the Red Sox hopeful he can be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

Dustin Pedroia got the day off as planned with Brock Holt playing second. Hanley Ramirez also got the day off. Sam Travis played first base and Mitch Moreland served as the designated hitter. Xander Bogaerts hit in the leadoff spot.